Spring shoe



(No Model.)

J. GLUBGKSMANN.

SPRING SHOE. No. 337,146. v Patented Mar. 2, 1886.

mun l i m Ill/Hllllll i lllllllllll F 1;, I A I A mum -|m||||1||\ lllL UNIT D STATES PATENT" OFFICE.

JOSEPH GLUECKSMANN, or sr. LOUIS,MISSOURI.-

SPRINGZSHOE.

srncirrcnrion forming part of Letters Patent mas-1,146, dated March 2, 1886. application filed October 15. 1885. Serial No. 180,028. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH GLUEoKsrm-N a subject of the Czar of Russia, and residing at St. Louis, in the State ofv Missouri, have invented a new and useful Spring Shoe, of which the following is a specification.

The chief object of my invention is to provide a shoe or similar foot-gear with a suitable spring or springs, all adapted to be applied to, worn, and used by the operator, person, or user for purposes of utilizing the elasticity of .said springs to better facilitate walking, running, jumping, vaulting, gymnastic, and similar exercises. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichv Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved spring-shoe as the same appears ready for use. Figs. 2 and 3 represent,respectively, in side elevation the upper and lower platens or foot-boards joined together with the springs, also showingin Fig. 2 thespringsin un ocked condition, while in Fig; 3 they are shown locked together." Fig. 4. represents perspectirely thesame springs pivoted in pairs and the manner of their arrangement and fasten ing between the two foot-boards. Figs. 5, 6,

and 7 represent modifications of my invention, ehietiy showing the different kinds of springs that can be substituted.

Similar let-tors refer to similar parts through out the several views.

A and 13 represent the respective upper and lower,lbot-boards. in Fig. 1 these are shown as shaped, sized, and otherwise made to conform to a tit for the wearer. Said foot-boards can be of wood, leather, or metal.

C and D represent the pairs of springs shown interposed between andjastened to both foot-- boards. The arrangement is such that one pair, 0, shallbe on one side, the other pair, I), on the opposite side. (See Figs. 2, 3, 4.) The central space is lel't free for the operation of the spring-clasp or locking device hereinafter to be described.

In Figs-'2, 3, and 4 I show the same set of longitudinal springs having a pivotal joint at e and d, each pivotjoiniug each pair in the middle. Further,'the formof the springs presents one end, 0, as the upper extreme, the opposite end, a", as the lower extreme. It is the upper extreme ends, e e, of eachpair of springs that is rigidly'i'astened to the upper foot-board at f f, while the opposite lower extreme ends,e e,'of the same pair of springs are fastened movably at i to the lOWGlfOOU? board. The fnstenirig of thelower ends of the springs O D (shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4) is by means of staples g, which permit the said spring ends to freely slide along the foot-board to accommodate the elasticity of the springs when contracted and expanded. The upper foot board, together with thesp rings, can there fore have a vibratory action, it being the return motion of the released springs more particularly that imparts an elastic force and impetus to the wearer of the device.

To the upper foot-board the insolestrap H and hecl-strap H are properly attached with their-hand-st-raps'h k,- by means whereof the device can be properly strapped to the wearers foot orlshoe. (See Fig. 1.)

Hrepresents an outside covering, of canvas, leather, or other suitable material, fastened properly to both the upper and lower i'oot- 7 boards, as shown. l To apply and use my improved spring-shoe, the wearer-simply straps the same to the soles of his feet or shoes, and by bringing the weight ofdris person or pressure to bear down the top foot/board readily causes the springs below to contract. This done,by releasing the pressure in the act of jumping,vaultingaud similar up motion, the returu'vaction of the springs greatly accelerates the persons inotion. 8

In case it is desired not to use the reciprocation of the springs, the same can be kept. immovableor in locked condition. For this purpose I have provided the spring-clasp shown in Figss2. It consists of the spring 0 i, having one end fastened at i','the remaining end of said springblade bearing against the short arm 2" of the lever-clasp i This lever. clasp has its pivot-bearing in a bracket, i,aud' its lower end is fitted to engage a catch, 17, 5 in manner shown in Fig. 3. In open condition the spring-blade retains thelever-claspinthehorizontal-position shown in Fig. 2. To look the lever-clasp, a key is inserted in the opening shown in Fig. lto enxoc The modifications representvin Fig. 5the spplieation and use of coil-springs, in Fig. 6 double heliral springs, and in Fig. 7 spiral springs, all for the same purposes. The said 5 several springs are likewise all fastened by their upper ends to the upper board, the lower end to the lower board, each spring being op posile to each other, and giving the same vi.- bratory action to the remaining shoe portions. As apparent, my improved springshoe can be made oi'all sizes to suit.

'What I claim is eudsof said springs rendered movable along the I'owen-foot-board, and the fastening-straps, substantially as aud for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination with a spring-shoe consisting of the upper and lower foot-boards,

JOSEPH GLUECKSMANN.

1. The combination 0! theupper and lower 5 Witnesses;

foot-boards having springsinterposed between 15 same, the upper ends of said springs fastened immovubly said upper board, the lower I E. S. J EFlRl-JY.

W ILLIAM W. HERTHEL, EDWARD S. JEEFREY. 

